ICF Zurich Small Group Program Celebration 13/01/2018. How can I recognize negative patterns in my life?

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1 FREE AT LAST How can I recognize negative patterns in my life? Current Series Jesus goal is to bring us into freedom. So, why are there areas in our lives, where we do not experience this complete freedom? What is the connection between our behavioral patterns and the unseen world? What does a full and liberated life feel like? 06/01/2019 Why do I keep on losing my passion? 13/01/2019 How can I recognize negative patterns in my life? 20/01/2019 How can I deal with manipulation? 27/01/2019 How do I deal with the trash in my life? 03/02/2019 How can I live a life of freedom? Small Group Evening Ice Breaker Do you have any strange or funny habits? TOPIC: HOW CAN I RECOGNIZE NEGATIVE PATTERNS IN MY LIVE? Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see! Isaiah 42:18 (The Bible New International Version) Who is blind but my servant, and deaf like the messenger I send? Who is blind like the one in covenant with me, blind like the servant of the Lord? Isaiah 42:19 (The Bible New International Version) Seite 1 / 7

2 You have seen many things, but you pay no attention; your ears are open, but you do not listen. Isaiah 42:20 (The Bible New International Version) Bring out the people who are blind, even though they have eyes, and those who cannot hear, even though they have ears. Isaiah 43:8 (The Bible New Life Version) Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear. Jeremiah 5:21 (The Bible New International Version) Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people. Ezekiel 12:2 (The Bible New International Version) For this people s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them. Matthew 13:15 (The Bible New International Version) There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the Lord drove out before Israel. 1 King 21:25-26 (The Bible New International Version) What drives you? Where do you stop at nothing? Where do you exploit people! Where are you only interested in your own profit? Where do you want to win at all costs? Where do you search for recognition from others as all costs? Where do you absolutely want a promotion? Where do you demand recognition? Where do you want to force your opinion on others? Where do you want to gain a position so that you can feel valuable? Seite 2 / 7

3 If you watch Jaws backwards, the film is about a shark that keeps spitting out people until they open a beach bar. If you watch Godzilla backwards, it is about a friendly giant lizard that helps to rebuild a destroyed city and then moonwalks back into the ocean. If you watch Titanic backwards, it is the heart-warming story about a ship that emerges from the ocean and saves a bunch of people from drowning. If you look at Ahab backwards, created by God! Instead of control & manipulation - trust God! Instead of passivity & the inability to deal with conflict - assume self-responsibility Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say... 1 King 19:1-2 (The Bible New International Version) Jezebel his wife said, Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite! 1 King 21:7 (The Bible New International Version) The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (The Bible New International Version) Seite 3 / 7

4 Sharing & Consolidation Have you discovered Elijah symptoms (fear, isolation, resignation, emptiness) in your life? Could it be that you have some of Ahab s character traits (power, influence, control, manipulation, passivity, Inability to deal with conflict) in your life? Has the Holy Spirit already revealed something to you and are you already on the path into freedom? For the honest and courageous ones: mirror each other and give feedback on where you see such destructive patterns in your lives. Remember: we love each other and it is about making each other better and leading each other into freedom. Action Steps & Prayer Listen to God together. Does he want to reveal something to you? Where does he want to create life? Consciously open your heart and eyes for God s speaking in the coming week. What does he want to tell you? Which destructive patterns does he want to free you from? Seite 4 / 7

5 Did you know? On YouVersion that is a great reading plan on the topic of baptism (English version will be uploaded soon). If somebody is thinking of being baptized, this reading plan is a great possibility to get prepared. Or you can go through it as a Small Group. Feedback Do you have feedback on the Small Group program? Can we make it even better, more understandable, more useful and more fruitful? Write to tobias.schwegler@icf.ch Seite 5 / 7

6 HEARTBEAT FOR SMALL GROUP LEADERS ICF Vision Internalize the ICF Vision. Ask your participants to state the vision in your meetings until they all know it by heart. Discuss about how you want to implement this vision and make it visible. Next Step - Life in Movement How do you encourage each individual person in your Small Group? Who in your Small Group have you chosen as your trainee? What could the next steps be? - You can find an overview of possibilities on this website -> - And here is an overview of what is currently being offered: Description Dates Information and registration Coming Home Group after every Celebration Baptism preparation and baptism Information about preparation and baptism: ICF Leadership Training Seite 6 / 7

7 Various Workshops in the ICF College Counselling Marriage preparation / marriage coaching Various courses for parents with children Child Dedication Pray for your Small Group Pray for your participants and their concerns. Pray that each one has an encounter with God and that you may all achieve your goals together. Consciously submit yourself under God s leadership so that the evening may take place according to his will. Plan your Small Group meeting Think about what you can delegate (administration, hospitality/food, prayer, worship, input ). Everybody should be informed where and when the meeting is taking place. Communication is the responsibility of the leader! Count on God s presence: For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20 Seite 7 / 7